Do Medical Schools Accept Virtual Shadowing? What You Need to Know (2025)

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual shadowing has emerged as a widely accessible option for pre-med students seeking clinical exposure. But as in-person hospital access returns, many students wonder: Do medical schools still accept virtual shadowing? And if so, how does it compare to traditional, hands-on experience?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how medical schools view virtual shadowing, which platforms are credible, how to document it, and why in-person internships — like those offered by Go Elective — remain the gold standard for clinical experience.

What is virtual shadowing?

Virtual shadowing allows students to observe physicians, physician assistants, and other providers online. These sessions typically include:

• Case-based discussions
• Recorded or live lectures led by practicing clinicians
• Q&A sessions about patient care, diagnostics, and treatment decisions

Popular platforms include Virtual Shadowing with Dr. Gray, WebShadowers, and university-hosted programs. Some offer certificates of attendance, which students can log in their application materials.

Do medical schools accept virtual shadowing?

Yes — but with important caveats. Most medical schools accept virtual shadowing as a supplemental experience, especially if it helped fill the gap during COVID-era restrictions. However, they still prioritize in-person clinical experience that allows direct observation of real-time patient care.

What admissions committees say:

• Accepted: If clearly documented and thoughtfully reflected upon
• Not enough: On its own, virtual shadowing will not substitute for in-person clinical exposure
• Best used as: A bridge or enhancement to traditional experiences

According to the AAMC, virtual shadowing can complement your application, but students are still expected to pursue real-world, in-person opportunities whenever possible.

How to list virtual shadowing on your AMCAS or AACOMAS application

On AMCAS (for MD programs) or AACOMAS (for DO programs), you can include virtual shadowing under the “Shadowing” or “Other Experience” category.

Best practices:

• Include the name of the physician, organization, and platform
• Note whether the session was live or recorded
• Be honest about your level of participation (e.g., Q&A involvement)
• Avoid exaggerating the clinical nature — it’s observational, not hands-on
• Reflect on what you learned and how it shaped your understanding of medicine
  
  

Example entry:

Experience Type: Physician Shadowing
Organization: WebShadowers
Supervisor: Dr. Jane Doe, MD
Description: Attended 25+ virtual shadowing hours with clinicians from emergency medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Participated in live Q&A sessions and reflected on clinical reasoning in patient cases.

Pros and cons of virtual shadowing

✅ Pros:

• Free and accessible for students without local healthcare connections
• Exposure to a wide range of specialties in a short time
• Opportunity to learn from experts across the country
• Useful for early exposure or exploration of interest areas

❌ Cons:

• No direct patient interaction
• Can feel passive compared to in-person experiences
• Often not accepted as sufficient by top-tier medical schools if done alone
• No practical skill development (e.g., vitals, charting, team communication)

Why in-person experience is still essential

Even with virtual options available, most schools expect you to demonstrate real-world, patient-facing experience. This is where internships abroad can be a powerful alternative — especially for students without strong clinical access at home.

Benefits of in-person internships (like Go Elective):

• Observe live patient care, not just case summaries
• Participate in ward rounds, clinics, and emergency units
• Gain cultural competence by navigating global healthcare settings
• Build professional relationships and receive evaluations
• Learn practical soft skills: empathy, communication, adaptability

Go Elective internships in Kenya and Tanzania are tailored for pre-med, nursing, and pre-PA students seeking immersive, safe, and well-supported experiences that go far beyond passive observation

Read more: Medical Internships in Africa

When to use virtual shadowing

If you're early in your pre-med journey, virtual shadowing can be a great first step. Use it to:

• Learn about different specialties
• Prepare for in-person shadowing
• Explore global healthcare careers
• Supplement your application when in-person access is limited

But remember, don’t stop there. Treat it as a starting point, not a replacement.

Final thoughts

Yes, medical schools accept virtual shadowing — but only as one piece of your broader clinical experience. To be truly competitive, especially in today’s post-pandemic admissions landscape, you’ll need to pursue direct, in-person patient exposure.

If you’re struggling to find those opportunities, programs like Go Elective’s international internships can provide safe, guided, and highly impactful placements that help you stand out — and prove you’re ready for the demands of medical training.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jul 1, 2025